Oseledets

Oseledets (Ukrainian: оселедець, IPA: [oseˈlɛdetsʲ]) or chub (чуб [tʃub]) is a traditional Ukrainian hairstyle that features a long lock of hair sprouting from the top or the front of an otherwise closely shaven head (similar to a modern Mohawk). Most commonly it is associated with the Zaporozhian Cossacks.

1869 depiction of Sviatoslav I, the prince of Kiev from 945 to 972

History

The earliest description of a possible oseledet comes from a description of Sviatoslav, prince of the Kievan Rus'. Sviatoslav's appearance has been described very clearly by Leo the Deacon, who himself attended the meeting of Sviatoslav with John I Tzimiskes. Following Deacon's memories, Sviatoslav had a bald head and a wispy beard and wore a bushy mustache and a sidelock as a sign of his nobility.^[1]

A closely related haircut, czupryna, was worn by the Wends of early medieval Poland, and later by the Szlachta from the 12th until the 18th century.^{[citation needed]}

During the 16th and 17th century, the Cossacks of Ukraine shaved their heads, leaving a long central strip which was often braided or tied in a topknot.^{[citation needed]}

The oseledets underwent a revival among romantics and nationalists during the early 20th century. Romantic painters associated Leo the Deacon's description of Sviatoslav's appearance and equestrian lifestyle with the cossacks and depicted him as such.

After independence, the oseledets made a comeback among modern Ukrainians. It was seen during the Euromaidan protests of 2014.^[2]

The Ukrainian name for this type of haircut is oseledets (Ukrainian: оселедець, literally "herring") or chub (Ukrainian: чуб, meaning "crest"). There are several Ukrainian surnames derived from this word.

The oseledets/khokhol is a standard feature in the stereotypical image of a Ukrainian Cossack.^{[citation needed]} This haircut is depicted in various motion pictures such as The Lost Letter that is based on works of Nikolai Gogol.

Khokhol

Historically, Ukrainians used the term khokhol amongst themselves as a form of ethnic self-identification to visibly separate themselves from Russians.^[3]

A Russian name for the oseledets hairstyle, khokhol (‹The template Lang-rus is being considered for deletion.› Russian: хохол, IPA: [xɐˈxol]) is commonly used as an ethnic slur for a Ukrainian male (feminine form: Russian: хохлушка, romanized: khokhlushka),^[4][5][6] as it was a common haircut of Ukrainian Cossacks. The term is usually derogatory or condescending.^[7][8] The word comes from Proto-Slavic xoxolъ < *koxolъ, lit. 'crest, tuft'.^[9] Accordingly, Khokhliandiya (Russian: Хохляндия, Хохландия) and Khokhlostan (Russian: Хохлостан) are derogatory references to Ukraine.^[10]

Gallery

• 
  A fragment from Reply of the Zaporozhian Cossacks (1880-91); painted by Ilya Repin
• 
  Boxer Denys Berinchyk, 2012

See also

Hairstyles:

• List of hairstyles (with illustrations)
• Chupryna
• Sikha

Slurs:

• Anti-Ukrainian sentiment
• Moskal
• Ukrop
• Vatnik (slang)